Trauma Tuesday: Mountain Goat Inspired Prosthetics

This week Trauma Tuesday takes a look at an innovative and forward thinking concept in industrial design. Why do something the same way it’s been done when you know it could be done better?

The KLIPPA is a new prosthetic leg for rock climbing designed by Kai Lin that has been receiving major design accolades. The specialized prosthetic will be used by some of the hundreds of American soldiers who have lost one or both legs in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as others who have suffered loss of limb.

Lin was inspired by videos he saw of mountain goats climbing near vertical cliffs. He analyzed their hoofs, studied the sport of climbing and the needs of amputee athletes, including the documentary High Ground by Michael Brown, and developed this innovative prosthetic.